Stabilizer for tractor mounted implements



Dec. 18, 1951 C. B. RICHEY STABILIZER FOR TRACTOR MOUNTED IMPLEMENTS Filed June 29, 1949 INVENTOR. CM Rf/VCI d AK/li/ BY Patented Dec. 18, 1951 STABILIZER FOR TRACTOR MOUNTED.

IMPLEMENTS Clarence B. Richey, Royal Oak, Mich, assignor to Dearborn Motors Corporation, Highland Park. Micl1., a corporation of Delaware Application June 29, 1949, Serial No. 102,076

3 Claims. (01. 280-3344 This invention relates to an improved stabilizer It has become the common practice to mount various types of farm implements directly upon a tractor and the most common form of such mounting arrangements is the so-called threepoint suspension system which has been incorporated in the well-known Ford tractor. When the implement thus mounted to the tractor is of the type that is subjected to lateral vibration, such as, for example, a mower having a reciprocating cutter bar, it necessarily follows that such lateral vibrations are transmitted to a large extent to the tractor, producing not only discomfort for the operator, but, in addition, subjecting the moving components of the tractor to increased wear and fatigue strains.

In my copending application, Serial No. 85,214, filed April 2, 1949, I have disclosed an improved tractor carried mower construction which substantially eliminates the transmitting of lateral vibrations from the mower to the tractor by virtue of permitting the entire mower unit to vibrate laterally, substantially independently-of the tractor.

In such mower construction, it is necessary, however, to employ some means for limiting the lateral displacement of the mower unit relative to the tractor without interfering with the freedom of the lateral vibration of the mower unit relative to the tractor. In accordance with this invention, a novel form of stabilizing link is employed as an additional connection between the mower unit and the tractor. The joint between the stabilizer link and the mower unit incorporates a resilient or yieldable connection which will permit a limited amount of lateral vibration in the mower unit but yet will definitely limit any excessive lateral displacement of the mower unit with respect to the tractor.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved stabilizing arrangement for tractor mounted implements, and particularly for implements such as mowers which are subjected to lateral vibrations.

A particular object of this invention is to provide an improved stabilizing link for connection between a tractor and a tractor mounted implement which will positively limit any excessive lateral displacement of the implement relative to the tractor, but which will permit substantially unimpeded lateral vibration of the implement relative to the tractor and thereby reduce the transmitting of such vibrations to the tractor.

The specific nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the'following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the attached sheet of drawings on which, by way, of preferred example only, is illustrated one embodiment of this invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tractor and atractor mounted implement, such mounting including a, stabilizing bar constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged scale fragmentary sectional viewtaken on a plane passing through the axis of connection of the stabilizing banto the tractor mounted implement,

Figure 3'is an elevational view showing a stabilizing bar embodying this invention with the bushing portion thereof shown in section.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure l, the rear end portion of a wellknown type of tractor is represented by the numeral I0. Such tractor is provided with the equally well- -known three-point implement mounting arrangement comprising hydraulically liftable, transversely spaced, lower links! I and a centrally mounted positioning or top link l2.-- The links H and I2 are all pivotally connected in trailing relationship to the rear axle housing M of the tractor and'such pivotal connections include the customary spherical type bearings (not shown) which permit lateral as well as vertical swingable movements of the links I I and I2 with respect to the tractor.

An implement l5, here shown as a rear mounted mower, is pivotally connected to the trailing ends of links ll andl2. The implement l5 includes a rigid U-shaped frame I5a and a cutter bar portion 15b Frame 15 has a pair of laterally spaced and projecting mounting pins l6 respectively engaged by the lower links I i, and a top link mounting pin l1, supported in upstanding .ears [8 and engageable with the rear end of top link l2. The remaining mechanism of the mower unit I5 is suitably connected to the bottom ends of the U-shaped frame l5a in the manner that is more fully described in my above referred to copending application and the copending application of Vernon O. Hauswirth, Serial No. 102,058, filed June 29, 1949, and assigned to the assignee of this application.

The links H and I2 include spherical bearing members IS in their trailing ends to receive the mounting pins provided on the implement l5 so that when the implement i5 is completely assembled to the links I I and I2, the entire implement may be freely laterally moved relative to the tractor over a substantial range of movement. By Virtue of such lateral freedom, the entire implement I may vibrate laterally with respect to the tractor and, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art, a substantial degree of vibration is inherentl involved in a mower unit employing a reciprocating cutter bar.

It is.,.hnwever; very necessary that the lateral displacement of the mower l5 in the direction away from its cutter bar portion i511 be positivelv restricted inasmuch as the vegetation being cut by the cutter bar inherently att mnts to swing the entire mower unit to ard the oppositesi'de of the tractor, or the leftrsidenfi-cthe tractor as viewed in Figure 1'.

In ac ordance with this invention, :zexcessive lateral disp acement of the mower unit J5 with resp ct to the tr ctor is positively limit d by the provision of a stabilizing link 20. Suchilinkxtis pivotallv mounted to the tractor by a pin 2 I which iisisupnortedibv--a1bracket 22 mounted in dependingt-relationship-ito the tractor-axle housing Hi. fllherpivotal-axis of the pin-2 l-zis :in-ali nment with the pivotal axisaof the fpivotal connections of the I claim:

1. In combination with a hitch for use with a tractor and an implement requiring a substantiall rigid lateral tractor-implement connectionbut subiect to transverse vibration, said .zhitch including a pair of laterallyspaced laterally swingable hitch links for pivoted connection .to the tractor and the implement and a laterally rigid stabilizing link for connection to the tractor dn spazced relation to one of said links and to the implement in juxtaposition to the same linkito laterallyrbrace the links against substantialilateralsmovement, deflectable resilient means lower links H to the itrectorllll; but the bracket 22 is laterall spaced with respect to the pivotal anounting-ofthe right handiower link I?! as shown .inyfmi urel.

Thor-free end .of.=sta-bili-zing .link 2.0 is pivotally connected to the same mounting pin H5 adiacent .on thedmolement 15 as the tadiacent lower link =H t-istconnecteda However, the mounting-of'stabi- 3 :lizingrlink Zil'to fthe imnlem'ent :l-5" is accomplished by s cial bush ng nortion zt'formed'on the end offcstabilizerzlink 20 andhest ehowntin Figure 3. suchxbushing portion includes an inner cylind'ri cal rigid lsleeve 1M! and 'an' intermediate sleeve '25 of rubber or rubber-like-rresilient:material, and amouterf'bondingrsleeve zfiswhichfis rigidlymounv ed:in:the bushing apcrtion zdo'fithe-stabilizer link 0. The" resilient sleeve 251's: suitably bonded or ccmnressed betweemtheinner ando'ulter rigid sleeves 25 so as to permit a limited degree of radial movemen't of 'the innerlsleeve' 2'4 with respect t'o-the- 'outer mo'untingsleeved 6'; :andhence with respect to the bushing portion 23 of the stabilizer link lil. "The bore p'ort-iom'Ma-of the inner sleeve 23 1s"snuely' mountakile on the end of the mount lug-pin i-6*of the implement f! andis retalne'din assembly thereon' bv the customary link pin 21;

With "the-- described arrangement of the stabilizer link 2!), it is apparent that the stabilizer link 20- is' disposed in generally 'triangularly spaced relationship with respect to the adiacent lower link 'll and'hence, in the absence of a resilientconnection between the stabilizer link 2!! and the: implement 15, the implement wouldbe L substantially rigidly 'securedto the tractor H! as 'far as the lateral movements are concerned.

However, ,"by virtue of the provision of the re 'silienti's'leeve zfiintheimplementmountingpor tion of'the stabilizing link 20,.the e'ffectivelength oflstabilizingllinklfi can varycslightl iby radial compression of v resilient .sleeve 2.5 and 4 the implement 1L5:may vibrate laterally to a limited ideinterposed between said stabilizing link and its point of attachment to said implement for accommodating change in the effective length of said stabilizing link as said implement vibrates to accommodate corresponding slight lateral vibration in said .stabilizedlinkage.

'22 'In combination with a vhitch for use with a tractor. and an implement requiring asubstantially rigid lateral tractor-implement connection but subject to transverse vibration, said lhitchrincluding apair of. laterally spaced .laterally .swingable forwardly converging hitch links for pivoted. connection to the tractor and the implement and a laterally rigid stabilizing link for connection to the tractor and to the implement in triangular relationship withv one of said hitchv links to laterally brace the links against substantial lateral movement, a cylindrical laterally :defiectable resilient sleeve interposed be- .tweenrsaid stabilizin link and one of its points ofattachment for accommodating slight lateral vibratory movement of the stabilized hitch linkage for accommodatingcorrespondin change-in the efiective lengthof said stabilizing link.

.3. lnrcombination with .a hitch for use with'ea tractor and "animplement requiring a substantially. rigid lateral tractor-implement connection but subject totransverse vibration, said hitch ineluding a pair of laterally spaced hitch links pivotally connected-:tmthe tractor and-to the-implement for lateral swinging movement, and a laterally rigid stabilizing link for pivotal connection to the tractor in laterally spaced-relation .to-oneof said-hitch links and to-theimpleinent in. juxtaposition to the :same link to laterally brace, the linksagainstsubstantial lateralmovement; deflectable resilient means interposed be- .tween said stabilizing link and its point of at- .tachment'to said implement including a pair of concentric sleeve portions rigid with said stabilizing' link. and said implement respectively, and a resiliently defiectable sleeve interposed between said rigid sleeves for accommodating relative lateral movement of the sleeves, whereby changein the effective length of said stabilizing link is accommodated assaid implement vibrates laterally to accommodate corresponding vibration. in said linkage;

- CLARENCE VB. "RICHEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1177-8503 Lord t. 14, 1930 1;87-l';861 'Rossman Aug; 16, 1932 "1,913,513 'Rossman' 'et al. Junel3y1'933 2,136,440" Huefferd Nov. 15, 'I938 234E898 Ferguson May 2, 1944 i 5 Ellis A r, 16, 1946 

